While visiting Abram in South Carolina recently, I met a man in the parking lot of our Super 8 Motel. Let's call this man Larry. I was standing next to our van, smoking a cigarette and drinking coffee from a Polish Pottery mug I had brought from home. I noticed his Idaho license plates and asked Larry where he hailed from in Idaho. He said "about 30 miles from the Canadian border." I asked, "Bonners Ferry?" Larry smiled at me, surprised that I new where Idaho was, let alone Bonners Ferry. Here is his story in a nutshell. This man and his wife drove all the way from North Idaho to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, to attend their daughter's graduation from Army boot camp. I told him I thought this was the coolest thing ever...and although I didn't say it to Larry...I thought this a perfect example of a parent's love for their child.

Fair winds and following seas, Abram.

Greetings from Columbia, South Carolina

I love that we can get in our van in Ozark, Alabama, in the morning...and by early evening we are getting ready to eat Mexican food in Columbia, South Carolina. The journey was mostly uneventful --only one long delay in Augusta, GA....traffic accident blocking both lanes...but sunny and dry road conditions...and the gasoline cheap and plentiful.

When we got off the exit to find our Super 8 Motel...I immediately spotted a HOBBY LOBBY just a short block down the road...and am so excited that I can go browse tomorrow...while Jeff and I wait for Abram to finish his day of training.

Jeff & I checked into our motel room and immediately hopped on our laptops (his & hers) so we could unwind and vegetate the way we do at home. I don't know if we're sick, lucky or both. I went to MySpace, noted that Abram had checked his MySpace today...and figured that a message on his page would catch his attention. So I posted a message...and within a half hour received a call from Abram. Abram said he was going to catch a couple hours of shut eye and then had guard duty at midnight...and he hoped to be done with training tomorrow at 6 p.m. We look forward to going out to dinner, the three of us...and even though Abram has to return to barracks to sleep tomorrow night...he'll be able to hang with us for the entire day Sunday.

There's a multiplex movie theatre across the street from our Motel...and several eateries. And a Hobby Lobby? I don't need anything more than that. Life if good.

Short Poem for the day!

“How did it get so late so soon?
Its night before its afternoon.
December is here before its June.
My goodness how the time has flewn.
How did it get so late so soon?”

- Dr. Seuss

Fun day at the Craft Show!

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Getting the house spruced up for my Mom's visit

I love cleaning house....in the sweet anticipation of a special person coming to visit us. Even though I saw my Mom this past spring...it's been close to two years since Mom has been to visit us in Ozark. What a treat. Mom and I will do a road trip down to Sarasota to spend Thanksgiving with my sister, Jessica (a new arrival to Florida)...and then we'll do another road trip down to Fort Walton Beach to visit my brother and his girlfriend.

All right then, I'm back to cleaning. Black-eyed peas are cooking on the stove top and I need one more cup of espresso (Thank you, sweet neighbor, for the latest batch of magical elixir). Tomorrow is meal planning and shopping for food...and Saturday is cooking--gotta try this new Hummingbird Cake recipe I just found. I'm in my happy place!

I'm so proud of you, Jeffrey! Hoo-ah!

Instructor of the Year Ceremony
Army Aviation Museum, Fort Rucker, Alabama
November 13, 2008

A year of color

Gorgeous Autumn Sunday

It only takes a minute (or so I've recently read) to jot a couple personal notes. So here is me, giving this a try.

I'm starting to tweak a bit, getting ready for this craft show on Saturday (Happy Birthday, Mom! I'll be thinking of you the entire day while at the show.) So, I'm working on mental relaxation and not letting my "freaking out" thoughts get the best of me. I've done this before, I may do it again...and I'm thinking how lovely it would be not to "go there!" Deep breath...look out my studio window at the pristine calm of the lake...clear sky of blue....another deep breath, in.....out. I've got the day by the tail...not the other way around. And I'm likin' it!

View from my front porch throne

I never tire of our jogs around this little lake. It is so beautiful at this time of year. This month marks our one-year anniversary of going out to walk/jog this 5K route. I remember when I first saw this gorgeous flowering shrub. It's HUGE! I've since learned that it is a rose mallow, also known as Confederate Rose. This is the sight that greets us as we park our vehicle in the parking lot before we begin our jog.

Today Jeff and I did a double loop of the lake. Well, Jeff did a complete and I did a partial double loop. After we jogged the 3 miles one way, Jeff reversed his direction and headed back around for an additional 3 miles. After jogging one way, I walked for 1 1/2 miles...until I met up with Jeff again, and then I completed the path...jogging an additional 1 mile. This marks another first for me. Four miles of jogging in the same session. YAY! There was a couple of times during the jog that I wanted to snap a photo of the dappled light, still day...sun shining on the water. But I think I can remember it...even without a photo.

Fall Blooming Iris

If you thought this a "springtime photo" you would be mistaken. It's what I would have guessed if I were to see it. I planted these iris last fall, 2007. Back then I didn't understand the importance of keeping good notes on the various cultivars I was putting in the ground. I had 12 different tubers, no green, nothing blooming, so no color to go by, each tuber a different cultivar. Now I'm wishing I knew WHICH variety of iris this is because it's the only one that is blooming this autumn. Oh well, it's blooming and after a couple of years I'll be able to divide it and spread it around!

I'm still here

October is waning and although the leaves are falling and night temperatures are cooler...I'm still wondering what happened to September! Life is good. I finished my Master Gardener course work and will continue logging volunteer hours to achieve my certification. I've volunteered manual labor with the Claybank Master Gardener group a couple of times and will join these folks this Saturday on Ozark's "Make a Difference Day." Again, we'll be turning out at the Ozark library (the group's pet project)....to fluff and add pine straw to the daylily and iris beds we divided and transplanted last weekend. Such a nice group people I've been getting to know and makes me feel good to be a part of something that's helpful and productive.

I've been keeping busy with work...creating some new designs and producing large quantities of items for the upcoming Fort Rucker Community Spouses' Club yearly Craft Show. I haven't done a craft fair in years....and it's kind of fun getting ready for it!

Jeff and I have been out to Dale Co. Lake for our walks/runs...and the last three times I've been out there I've jogged the 3 miles.....without stopping . I remember when I was going to the gym at Fort Campbell, a couple of times a week...walking the 1/2 mile distance to and from the gym when I would go. And I remember working up to being able to jog the entire distance from the gym to our quarters on Hawaii Avenue....without stopping. This was 1/2 mile...and I thought I was QUEEN then! So this 3-miles is a big deal for me. I think I can speed walk as fast as I jog/shuffle....but am so proud of myself. Three miles is as much as I want to do...but my goal is to do it a bit faster and have it feel easier. This body isn't striving to run any marathons...but just to keep good bone health and cardio strength.

I finally got in the yard and used my favorite chemical (glyphosate)....ROUND UP, lil' doggies! (I love knowing the active ingredients in some of these name brand pest and weed control sprays. One of the many benefits of attending this Master Gardener class.) I've been wanting to extend my daylily bed on the side slope of the yard for months...and this is the perfect time of year to do the laborious job. I needed a nice day without wind...and the first day that happened, I was all over it. I sprayed to kill the lawn/weeds to finish out the daylily bed....and I also sprayed to kill the grass in another area....where I have hopes of planting several Rabbit Eye blueberry bushes. These are one of the few fruits that we can grow in these here parts....and I'm all over this!

I heart flowers!

Works been good

Work has been good to me these last few weeks. I have great customers who bring out the best in my creative process. I've designed several new magnets and freshened up the face on some oldies, but goodies. Many years ago when Eileen and I first started making magnets, I don't think either one of us had a clue that we would still be making them. Almost all of my "good ideas" are now made into magnets first. They've grown on me. Just say "No" to stainless steel refrigerators and "Yes" to magnet art!

Kimberly in her glory

Heavenly Blue Morning Glory, that is. What fun to play with this extraction tool in Adobe Photoshop. I'm getting better at it...but there are still some crucial elements I need to school up on so I have more control over the size of the photos I'm merging together, dpi-wise.

G'bye to friends

I can't believe it. We watched the last episode of the final season of "The Wire." I'm going to miss the great characters (flawed to a fault), even the bad guys. I'll miss the gritty realism of the inner city...and the smart, quick dialog that made me feel like I was being let in on a well kept secret. Hey! I think it's because the writers gave credit to their audience and didn't feel compelled to explain every little thing. I liked that a lot. I'm grateful to all the folks involved in bringing us such great television...and I look forward to seeing what this writing team comes up with next.

More television pseudo-friendship goodbyes included the final season of "Foyle's War" on PBS Mystery ...and the final season of "Inspector Lynley" on the same station. I'm bereft on both counts. What better testimony of good entertainment...than a viewing fan who feels they've lost a friend.

Happy Birthday, Jeffrey!

Okay. This photo was taken on Christopher's 50th Birthday back in June. But today really IS Jeffrey's birthday...and we are in Florida with Christopher and Carol celebrating Jeff's special day. When Chris and Jeff return from a day of boating/fishing...I'll get a few photos of the birthday boy!

While visiting my brother in Florida, I started copying some photos from his hard drive to my external hard drive. Look at this photo I found! My beautiful grown-up kids! Taken only 2 1/2 years ago...I marvel at all the things that have happened in this short time. I'm thinking that each of us can look at the past two and a half years of our lives and note some big changes. A few of life's offerings just plain sucked. Flat out, no arguments, sad as sad can be...sucked. But looking at the glass half full....a multitude of blessings...more than our fair share, rained down on us and filled the cup again. Love the UGGS, Tarajean, and your beautiful smile (which matches the beautiful person you are on the inside)......And Abram? I actually miss seeing you and your hair in your eyes. Nope, I take that back. Let's just stick with "I miss you." THAT is the truth.

Sometimes it just works out. A customer asks if I’m able to do “such and such.” I am provided the thread of an idea…and from the idea follows a wave of head pictures (this is the part where I get very lucky!). Next is pencil to paper and then paper to scanner. When the artwork hits the computer, the project experiences another metamorphosis. The design begins to breathe on its own. I can usually tell if it’s going to work. And sometimes I’m downright tickled and surprised by the outcome. For this process, I give thanks.

Good Friends

Kimberly and Eileen

Week Three Cross Training Challenge

After a fairly easy start, this week's challenge ramps it up a bit. I've never been one to go to the gym often...but these requirements make the gym my "home away from home" this week. When I found out that I get to meet my dear friend, Eileen, in Charlotte, NC, later this week....I experienced a bit of angst. How am I going to cram all of this physical training into just a few days? Turns out my anxiety was all for not. Here's how you do it, Kim. Start the day with an hour-long Yoga/Pilates fusion class. Then hop over to the weight room and do 3 sets of a 10-item list of weight training exercises (thanks, Yvette, for showing me the ropes on these machines!)....then move into the other room and do 2 sets of 4-laps walking lunges (which equals a total of 64 lunges with my long legs). There! That's how to do it. Tomorrow I'll hit the 7 p.m. step aerobics class...and get a 30-minute swim in and another weight training session on Wednesday, after the Master Gardner class. I feel better already, just knowing I can fulfill the week's exercises.

Special Anniversary

September 2001

Congratulations to me......6 years of keeping the weight off!

Spring 2008

This was quite the exercise in collage design using Adobe Photoshop. It took entirely too long and although I ended up with a fun final product...there were things I tried doing and couldn't achieve. Maybe next time. These photos are a small tribute to my first couple of Master Gardener classes. Me on the "first day of school." The large sign out front of the Dale County Cooperative Extension office....the US and AL flags and a back drop of one of my favorite summer flowers, orange cosmos.

Thank you, Chris!

Just when I thought I might spend my day floundering and scattered, I received an e-mail from friend/customer, Chris. I have fresh direction! A rush order of assorted Earthshine Giftworks is needed for a Spouses Club membership sign up and I feel happy that I can do it. So, the Hestia chores will wait until tomorrow, along with yard detail and cooking (sorry, honey). A fresh pot of LJ's special blend is on the burner and I'm still wearing my pajamas. And Chris will be happy to know that I went back to the mat (no pun intended) and wrestled the "hat" beast of design...and I won!

Jeff and Abram, thanks for going to the rock wall with me. This photo of Y & I is worth more than any number of words trying to describe it. I love the work out I get from this particular activity and it was very special to share it with you guys. On Belay!

KY and YK

You can deal with anything if you have the right shoes!

Lucky Me! Two new pair of shoes. One pair for
walking/running and one for weight training and
rock wall climbing. It was a good sale on
name-brand shoes...how could I turn it down?
Oh, and I forgot to mention they BOTH have
awesome cushion and comfort.

Schnacky snack

The pears are on! I'm usually a Fuji apple-a-day kind o' gal but August - September brings us an abundance of Asian pears. The Quaker granola bar is my bow to the oatmeal raisin cookies I made in the "before" days of yore.

Did you know that a pear contains one more gram of fiber than an apple? I didn't. I just read this information in a nutrition guidelines handbook. Cool. Be sure and eat the peel.

Eat up, schnacky snackers! (Try saying this three times, real fast.)

Hurricane Gustav

We got more rain resulting from Tropical Storm Fay. Some mild winds and overcast skies were the only telltale signs that Gustav might come knocking. I'm sure our neighbors along the gulf coast to the southwest of us would write this blog differently. I can only share from my viewpoint, here in the house on the little lake. We'll keep an eye on the incoming Hanna and see if she's got something more wet in store for us.

40-minute cooking rice challenge

Just got back from the gym and successfully finished my cardio interval challenge on the treadmill. Then I performed the challenge move of the week --"push ups on the ball." I wrapped up the work out by finishing off my 32 oz. bottle of water and stretching most muscles in my body for 10 full minutes (easy to do if you stop to take the time but often times skipped if I'm in a hurry).

So you're probably asking yourself, "what does this have to do with cooking rice?" I'm getting to it. I was so energized after my work out, coupled with the fact that Jeffrey had just put on a fresh pot of coffee...that I decided I would see how many small domestic chores I could accomplish in the short time it takes to cook brown rice, ergo, the 40-minute challenge.

Here's what I was able to do...and I sure am proud of myself:

1. Take out the compost (which was starting to overflow the porcelain pot)

2. Fill the bird feeders
3. Windex the glass top patio table
4. Take up all the recycle for pick up in the early a.m.
5. Empty all household trash and wheel the trash can up to the curb
5. Scrub two toilets and clean one bathroom mirror and counter top
6. Water several of the potted plants and the day lilies in containers that I'm trying to keep alive so I can put them in the ground AFTER I kill the lawn where they need to be planted
7. Check my e-mail
8. Put a load of laundry in the washer
9. Drink a cup of the delicious coffee
10. Fill Stubby's dish with fresh water

Ding! Ding! That's the sound of the stove timer going off, letting me know it's time to cook dinner.

Let me know if you ever take the 40-minute rice cooking challenge. I'd love to hear what you accomplish with your 40-minutes

Our back yard

Labor Day 2008

For these things I am truly grateful...
A good night's sleep...coffee already brewed and ready to drink when I wake up (thanks, Jeffrey)....oh, and Jeffrey, always Jeffrey....Stubby to greet me on the front porch....our lake view out back...vinca flowers still blooming cheerfully in the front...talking to the kids and hearing they're doing well...being in contact with my Mom, sisters and brothers...and the good health to enjoy it all.

The 3.1-mile walking/running path around Dale County Lake...could be the best thing going in Ozark, Alabama. Jeff and I started walking this path a year ago. Sometimes we even jog a bit. The setting is peaceful and there's a canopy of trees that protects us from the direct sun, high winds and light rains. The ducks and geese are abundant and so is the quiet.

One of my favorite things

I'm pathetic

Okay. So I really had my heart in the right place. My intentions were sincere. I wanted to keep a garden journal...adding notes at least once a week...with photos from my yard and the Alabama area. Hmm. My initial commitment to this idea didn't take. Here's to my renewed vigor and giving it another go.
I started the Master Gardener course here in Ozark a few weeks ago...and this is the perfect place to blog my experiences.
I started a 10-week Cross Training Challenge through the Fort Rucker gymnasium...and again, this would be a great place to jot down some thoughts and ideas about my experiences.
So here's to life...and writing about it!